10 Comments

Mike, are there replacements for stab-style outlets that use screw connections?

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From what I’ve seen, commercial duty receptacles with screws are deeper than the stab receptacles, so retrofitting them may be tricky. I’ll need to do more research.

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Nov 15·edited Nov 15

The issue I found wasn't the depth, but once the large hole is cut for the stab-style outlet, there's no way to attach a standard outlet to the wall and you can't use a wall box. The replacement must have the swing-out tabs to hold it against the thin wall material.

Standard-size GFCI and USB outlets ARE too deep to fit in typical RV walls.

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you forgot to mention that even refrigerators on propane still use 12v for the electronics and the fans.

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That’s true, but I don’t have one to check current draw. Do any of you have some field measurements you can share?

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not now. I have never specifically measured the draw on my refrigerator. I do know it does draw down my battery (agm) overnight. next time I am out, I will try to measure the current

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You could look into a diesel heater as well.

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Great post, thank you. We heat our 50amp, Airstream with a Dyson heater/cooler unit at one end and a small Pelonis at the other set at 750w. We've done this for a number of years and so far, thankfully, we have no issues. I do pull the plugs we use once a year and inspect them where they connect to the Airstream wiring. The two units are plugged into different circuits and when we brew coffee etc both are shut down until coffee is done. Thanks again.

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Mike, those propane heaters do work (sort of), but they have significant altitude limits, like 5000-6000 feet. We switched to a Wave catalytic propane heater (12,000 foot), which has NO problem with CO. It does generate some H20, and the windows fog up. But even on the low 3000 BTU setting, it keeps the cabin of our 27ft motorhome in the (low) 50's.

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Nov 14·edited Nov 14

Using a propane heater in a confined space can be dangerous for several reasons:

Carbon Monoxide Production: If the heater is not vented properly or is malfunctioning, it can produce CO, which is toxic and can lead to poisoning so ensure there is a functioning co detector

Oxygen Depletion: As the propane burns, it consumes oxygen. In a sealed environment like a rv, this can lead to dangerously low oxygen levels. I have personally seen this happened in a trailer., fortunately our O2 monitors alarmed.

It’s crucial to ensure adequate ventilation when using propane heaters indoors or in enclosed spaces to prevent both CO buildup and oxygen depletion.

For safety, it is recommended to use a propane heater only in well-ventilated areas and to have both a CO detector and a separate oxygen monitoring device if you are in a situation where oxygen levels could become a concern. Some of the new heaters do have an O2 monitor built in and will shut the unit off.

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